Japan’s defence forces

Press, 26 June 1978, Page 16

Japan’s defence forces

Japan’s decision to prepare a comprehensive plan for its defence, reported on Saturday, marks a step in the evolution of Japan’s defence thinking rather than an embarking on new policies. Japan shows no sign of being about to rearm in any alarming way. Japan already has formidable forces. The ground, maritime, and air self-defence forces have a strength of just under 236,000. The Ground Self-Defence Force has 13 divisions, the Maritime SelfDefence Force has vessels amounting to 170,000 tonnes, the Air Self-Defence Force has 470 fighter and transport aircraft. The three services are all under the quota allowed by the Japanese Constitution. Service is voluntary. Since the Second World War, Japan has relied on the United States for its defence. This has had several effects: countries which suffered at the hands of Japan, or had reason to fear Japan during the war, have been reassured; and Japan has been able to devote a great deal of its resources to its economy, not to defence. Less than 1 per cent of the gross national product is being spent on defence. Of the bill of perhaps a billion dollars for American forces stationed in Japan, Japan pays less than half. The strength of the Japanese economy may be related to its modest spending on defence, compared with that of many other countries. This has given rise to criticism within the United States that Japan has been given something of a free ride. American pressures on Japan to pay more for its own defences are having an effect. The new plan, which is to be prepared over the next two years, may mean that Japan will pay more. No doubt sellers of American defence equipment will be able to argue that Japanese purchases would help balance some of the trade between the

two countries, which now runs heavily in Japan’s favour. American pressures aside, Japan’s thinking on defence is influenced by several other factors. Japan's continuing quarrels with the Soviet Union, over disputed islands and the fact that so many Soviet ships are around Japan’s shores, are reasons for unease in Japan. But probably the main influence is the uncertainty Japan feels about American intentions towards Japan and Asia as a whole. The planned withdrawal of American troops from South Korea, gradual as it is planned to be, appears to have heightened Japan’s concern. This concern has not subsided since the United States withdrew its forces from South Vietnam. Japan’s view of American intentions is probably mistaken. Not only does the United States have Pacific territories, but a great proportion of its trade flows westwards across the Pacific. Nevertheless, Japan’s uncertainty cannot be ignored. New Zealand’s ability to influence Japan has been demonstrably small but, as a Pacific country, New Zealand has to take account of Japan’s views. One

of the anomalies in Japan’s position in the world is that it is one of the truly powerful economies but its international influence has not matched its economic prowess. It would be very unfortunate if Japan came to consider that the only way in which it could assert influence was by acquiring great military strength. The countries of the Pacific might well consider whether they should combine to see Japan made a member of the Security Council of the United Nations. During a tour of SouthEast Asia last year, the Japanese Prime Minister (Mr Fukuda) showed himself to be thinking seriously about Japan’s reputation in Asia. Such international views are to be encouraged in Japan.